BOCARATON, FL (August 20, 2009) – The department
of physics within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at
Florida Atlantic University has partnered with Boca Raton Community
Hospital to offer students a Medical Physics Graduate Certificate
Program (MPGCP). Focused on preparing students who are interested
in developing a career in a health-related field and/or an advanced
degree in medical physics, the certificate is a 12-credit hour
interdisciplinary graduate program combined with a three-credit
hour prerequisite.

“Medical physicists play an ever-increasing role in
delivering the highly technical therapies that are offered in
modern hospitals and clinics. As the population continues to
grow, the medical facilities in the FAU service area are
multiplying,” said Dr. Theodora Leventouri, professor of
physics. “The department of physics has begun the education
of medical physicists with a certificate program which will
develop into a professional master’s degree.”

Medical physics is an applied branch of physics devoted to the
application of concepts and methods from physics to the diagnosis
and treatment of human disease. Career paths typically
include roles as a radiation therapy physicist, diagnostic
medical physicist, nuclear medical physicist, as well as a health
physicist or work in the field of research and academia.

The Lynn Cancer Institute of the Boca Raton Community Hospital,
the Cancer Institute at the FAU Research Park and the Wellington
Regional Medical Center will assist FAU’s department of
physics in providing the necessary facilities for students’
achievement of experience in the practice of radiation
therapy.

“We are proud to partner with FAU for this very worthwhile
program,” said Tim Williams, MD, medical director of
radiation oncology at Boca Raton Community Hospital’s Lynn
Cancer Institute. “Medical Physics plays an integral role
in cancer research and treatment, and at the Lynn Cancer
Institute, we are committed to providing resources to further
educate students interested in this field of
medicine.”

In addition to the 15-credit hours, the MPGCP also requires
completion of the Master’s of Science with a major in
physics requirements. Students with a Bachelor’s of
Science in physics, physical sciences, mathematics, or
engineering may apply for admission to the regular graduate
program of the physics department if interested in the
MPGCP.

For more information on the certificate program, contact Dr.
Theodora Leventouri at 561-297-2695 orleventou@fau.edu.